INTRODUCTION:
A few things stood out to me which I found to be enlightening and interesting as I awoke at my usual prayer time, about 2:30 a.m. on Fathers’ Day. I wondered what I could say to my two sons, my nephews, –who are now fathers, and a few associates who are about my own age. Off the top of my head, I could not think of an appropriate Scripture right away. So, I opened my Bible to try and begin a search for something that had a message about “Fathers and fatherhood.”
To my surprise, as I opened the Word of God, I saw that I had opened to Deuteronomy 11 which begins with: “Therefore, you shall love the LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgements, and His commandments always. Know today that I do not speak to your children, who have not known, and who have not seen the chastening of the LORD your God, His greatness, His mighty hand and His outstretched arm…But your eyes (Fathers) have seen every great act of the LORD. V.13b instructs them to earnestly obey, serve, and love the LORD their God with all their heart…and He will bless and prosper their livestock, land, grain, wine and oil.
Vv. 18-19 instructs fathers to keep these words in their heart and to teach them diligently to their children speaking of them when they sit in their house, when they walk by the way, when they lie down and when they rise up. …Write them on their doorposts and on their gates. …(YOU GET THE IDEA?)…That your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land…” (Continue reading through V. 28)
I BELIEVE THIS WAS/IS AN ANSWER TO MY PRAYER FOR AN APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY MESSAGE TO FATHERS.
“ANYONE CAN BE A FATHER, BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A DADDY”:
This was another interesting thing that became apparent to me on this same morning. It was based on the model prayer Jesus taught His disciples. It begins with: “Our Father who art in heaven…” There are some general blessings that are available to God’s entire creation: rain, water, river, sea, sun, moon, stars, etc. But there are some specific blessings, favors, disciplines, that are specific to those who believe in the Son of God—born of a Virgin, suffered, dead, buried, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is coming back again.
WE/ These are called: “CHILDREN OF GOD.” 1st John 1, speaks of the ETERNAL LIFE who was with the Father and was manifested to us through the Son/Jesus the Christ whose blood cleanses us from all sin. Believers are called “Little Children” throughout this little book of 1st John. In Chapter 3:1 John says: Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should be called “children of God!” So, God calls us / you Dads– His children or sons, and instructs us/you to LOVE, OBEY, AND TO BE FAITHFUL, LOYAL, AND TRUTHFUL, for we/you have an anointing from the Holy One. (1st John 20)
We Can then conclude that not every man/father can be called “DADDY” –only those who believe and belong to the Father through faith in His Son. A Daddy loves his children therefore he disciplines them, provides for them, and he is committed and devoted to his family. He comforts, is compassionate, and forgiving. Psalm 103:13 tells us that as a father (Daddy) pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Clearly, no one is born a Daddy, but for fathers to become Dads, they will need the help of the One who taught us to pray: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name…” They, themselves must learn and know Him so that they can teach Him and His commandments to the children.
No one and nothing except the Word of God, should be allowed to possess the hearts and minds of our children. Parents, especially fathers/Dads will need to set the order of priority in the home. Remember what was said in Deuteronomy 11, that God was not talking to the children at that point, but to fathers who have lived and seen already the reality, the power, the actions, etc. of God over time. They are CHARGED with the responsibility to teach it to their children/families.
THIS FATHERS’ DAY IS GONE, BUT I PRAY AND TRUST THAT BY NEXT YEAR MOST FATHERS WILL HAVE BECOME DADS BY BECOMING SONS OF GOD BY FAITH IN HIS SON, JESUS THE CHRIST. Follow Him for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and according to John 14:6- no one comes to the Heavenly Father in the Kingdom of Heaven but through Him.
IN CLOSING: It is my prayer and hope that this will have a positive impact on all who take time to read this BLOG. (Visit: BRENDARBERRY.COM. for more) Please leave a comment if you can.)
